Mama's Gotta Let Go

145. MADONNA, "Ray Of Light"
Produced by William Orbit and Madonna; written by Dave Curtiss, Christine Leach, Madonna, Clive Maldoon, and William Orbit
Maverick 17206 1998 Billboard: # 5

A balls-out tribute to parenthood pure and simple. Yes, it's written by committee, but I've got to believe that that chorus came straight from Lourdes' mom. And the titular phrase pays tribute to the mortality that is inevitably buried in the joy of parenthood. Without children, you can unconsciously pretend that you are going to be here forever; with children, you are almost constantly in the presence of a reminder of your own eventual passing. Shantih shantih shantih. Get down.

No Time for Elocution! For the Love of G-d, DANCE!!!

460. MADONNA w/JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, "4 Minutes"
Produced by Cutee-B, Vincent DiPasquale, Junkie XL, Eric Kupper, & Bob Sinclair; written by Hills, Madonna, Mosley, & Timberlake
Warner Bros. 463228 2008 Billboard: # 3

I always knew Madonna was a superhero--and here she is once again coming to save the day! With J.T. the Boy Wonder chanting her name in the background!! This, as you know, helps her channel her powers. Give her a Peron-worthy mob of adoring fans all chanting her name, and she could move the Houses of Parliament to the other side of the Thames simply with her iron will.

This is one of those songs for which I would not want to see the official lyrics even if they had them. For example, is she saying "you intervention" or "U.N. invention"? I know it's probably the former, but given the global stakes here it definitely could be the latter.

N.B.: Depending on which mix of this single you listen to, the world is either saved in 3 minutes and 52 seconds or 4 minutes and 10 seconds. In other words, 4 minutes was a pretty good guesstimate there, Madge. Shalom.